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Origin

Early 19th century (originally dialect in the sense ‘gnaw’): perhaps of Scandinavian or Low German origin; compare with Norwegian and Swedish nagga ‘gnaw, irritate’ and Low German ( g)naggen ‘provoke’.

Pronunciation

nag

Main definitions of nag in English

nag2

nounPlural nags

‘Molly, the horse I ride most often, is difficult, I think she'd be better off as a one rider horse than a Riding school nag.’

‘‘Dave,’ we said, ‘You're wasting your money on the nags, you'll end up in mounds of debt.’’

‘They weren't exactly a friendly group - they had hard, cold eyes, and those that rode on horses had only nags.’

‘He'd come all the way on a poor nag who should have been retired to the pastures a long time ago.’

‘Some are superb handlers of good horses, but less brilliant with moderate nags, or vice versa.’

‘I'll never forget the look on her face the first time she sat on the old nag!’

‘We both left slightly ahead, having cheered our nags with enthusiasm, a pint, and the best steak sandwich I've ever had.’

‘Why I find it so funny is that many trainers haven't a clue how their nags will do until they get to the racecourse, and if they do have an inkling, the last people they are likely to tell are the hacks.’

‘The two nags in the stable were barely fit to trot, a tree root had knocked the floor of the rifle range off its foundation, bats had taken over the ham-radio shack.’

‘One of his horses runs today, another tomorrow, and his final nag will run on Saturday.’

‘Instead of pristine white snow, you'll get a drab gray winter wonderland; instead of an inky-black horse, you'll get a gray nag.’

‘But it's not just any old nag, it's the champion racehorse Rock of Gibraltar - winner of seven consecutive Group One races.’

‘Three crowns and an old nag she'd borrowed from a student (whose tribal language homework she'd done in exchange) would not buy her that automobile.’

‘Horses are now on sale from any member of the Parents Association and if you would like to lend a hand selling a few nags, sheets are available at the school or from any committee member.’

‘Admittedly the horse is blind, half lame and being whipped by a lying two-faced jockey, but even dead on its feet it still looks like a safer bet than the alternative nags.’